Nut-lock



No. (2,478, Patented Dot. I8, was) J. T. BRIDGES.

NUT LOOK.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1898.)

TA'IES A'IENT JAMES TALIAFERROIBRIDGES, OF HANCOCK, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIAIJF TO EDGAR IV. VENABLE, OF HAMPDEN SIDNEY, VIRGINIA.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,4t78, dated October .18, 1898.

Application filed February 25, 1898.' Serial No. 671,653. (No model.)

invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in nut-locks of that class which are made from sheet metal and are interposed on the bolt between the nut and the rail or fish-plate; and the object that I have in view is'to provide an improved construction which shall combine simplicity, durability, and strength with cheapness of manufacture.

To the attainmentof these ends the invention consists of a slightly-elastic spring-plate with its central vertical portion extending vertically from its side edges in a regular curve, said plate being provided with a seatface formed by a depression and a shoulder in the lower part of the spring-plate, the face of said depression being inclined to the vertical axis of the bolt -hole in the plate or Washer, while the shoulder extends at a tangent to the bolt-hole.

In applying my spring locking plate or washer it is fitted on the bolt to have its lower edge rest upon the inclined foot of the fishplate and its side edges in contact with the face of the fish-plate, thus making the spring,

plate assume a slightly diagonal position. When the nut is screwed in place, the plate or washer is compressed and deflected from its original position, while the angle or corner of the bolt-nut is adapted to engage with the ledge or shoulder forming the seat in the washer, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

To enable others skilled in theart to understand my invention, I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of part of a railwayrail with my nut-lock applied thereto, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the same with the plane of section taken centrally through meson. Fig. 3 is an enlarged face view of the spring-plate detached. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 at of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 5 5 of Fig.

3. Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations illustrating the yielding action of the washer or plate when applying the nut and its locking action to hold the nut against rotation, respectively.

Like numerals'of reference denote like and .corresponding parts in each of the several made withits central vertical part 2 bulged or extended from the edge portions 8, the disk-shaped washer or plate being thus given the peculiar form shown in Fig. 5. At the center of the washer is the transverse bolthole 4, and in the outer face of the Washer, below the bolt-hole therein, is producedthe seat 5 for the nut. This seat is of peculiar form and arrangement to permit the nut to clear the locking-ledge when force is applied to turn the nut and screw it home against the plate, and also to permit the nut to be un screwed when force or pressure is applied by a suitable wrench for the purpose of removing the nut and permitting the washer to be used repeatedly; but the seat 5 is so formed and engaged by the elasticity and resistance of the spring washer or plate with the angle and face of the nut that the tendency of the lat ter to become accidentally unscrewed by the jarring or vibration of the track due to pass ing trains is wholly obviated. "The outer exposed face 6 of the seat is not in a true ver tical plane; but, on the contrary,it is slightly inclined inwardly and lies at a slight angleto the vertical axis of the bolt-hole, as shown by Fig. 4:, and at the lower edge of the seat 5 an olfstanding ledge or shoulder 7 is provided for locking engagement with the angle and edge of the nut. This offstanding ledge 7 is at a tangent to the bolt-hole, and it gradually widens from one vertical edge of the seat 5 to the other vertical edge of said seat. This gradually-widened ledge 7 is inclined or sloped outwardly, as shown by Fig. 3, to enable it to present the appearance of a cam or wedge and to have a wedging action as well as a locking engagement on the nut.

The locking plate or washer is made of a diameter or size to bring its lower edge in contact with the foot of the fish-plate, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2. When the plate or washer is applied, its lower edge rests upon the fish-plate to make the locking-washer assume a slightly tilted or inclined position on the bolt with its wings or side portions 3 in engagement with the face of the fish-plate. The washer or plate is gradually compressed when the nut is applied between said nut and the fish-plate to make the washer exert a spring or elastic action on the nut. In screwing the nut home on the bolt it is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, and its angles or corners ride against the inclined and sloped shoulder or ledge 7, the washer yielding sufficiently for this purpose and the form and arrangement of the seatface and the shoulder facilitating the rotation of the nut in the direction indicated. When the washer has been sufficiently compressed and the bolt screwed to the desired position, the inner face of the nut, at one angle or corner thereof, lies in the depression forming the seat, and the edge of the nut is substantially parallel to the shoulder or ledge 7, which lies beneath the said edge of the nut,

and is forced by the spring action of the der of the spring-plate, having the peculiar configuration described, permits the nut to be unscrewed upon the application of considerable force by a wrench or other implement, because the washer will yield or give a very limited distance for the edge of the nut to ride past the ledge or shoulder; but this can only be done when considerable pressure is applied to the nut, because the washer or plate has such engagement with the nut as to overcome any tendency of the latter to turn under the jar or vibration of the rail and to become detached accidentally from the bolt.

My improved locking plate or washer is simple, durable, efficient, and cheap. It is formed complete at one operation of the stampingdies, and it may be used repeatedly, because the unscrewing of the nut does not deflect or bend the ledge to such an extent as to maierially impair the efficiency of the device when subsequently used. The locking plate or washer may be used in other places than on railway-rails--as, for example, in bridge construction or jarring machinery.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a bolt and a fishplate, of a locking plate or Washer bent vertically in a curve, and fitted to the bolt to have its lower edge rest upon the fish-plate and its side edges or wings bear against the face of the fish-plate, the exposed face of said washer or plate having a seat for the inner face of the nut and an offstanding ledge or shoulder to engage with the edge of the nut, substantially as described.

2. A locking plate or washer bent vertically in a regular curve and provided in its outer face with a seat, the face of which is at an angle to the vertical axis of the bolt-hole, and with an offstanding tangential ledge or shoulder, substantially as described.

3. A spring or elastic locking plate or washer bent vertically in a regular curve with its central vertical portion bulged from its side portions or wings, and provided with a seat, and with an offstanding tangential ledge or shoulder, which is gradually widened and inclined or sloped outwardly from the face of the seat, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES TALIAFERRO BRIDGES.

Witnesses:

L. H. KUHN, R. O. DAWSON. 

